Mix It Up at Lunch Day, Oct. 23

Be a superhero at lunchtime. Illustration by Cierra Brinson, courtesy Teaching Tolerance.

Students consistently identify the school cafeteria as the place where segregation and bullying are the worst. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice and divisions based on socioeconomic status, appearance and race.

Have your school join Teaching Tolerance in celebrating Mix It Up at Lunch Day, where students are encouraged to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. Some schools get creative, with flash mobs, DJs and parades, but often a simple conversation can go a long way in bridging differences and finding commonalities. And of course, students can mix it up every day, all year long. Register at tolerance.org/mix-it-up.